Fifth-wheel for vehicles



Patented Mar. 7, I899.

H. P. WELLS & 0. MOBRI LL.

(No Model.)

WITNESSESv FIFTH WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

(Application filed May '7, 1898.

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INVENTORS No. 620,625. Patented Mar. 7, I899. H. P. WELLS &. 0. MDRRILL.

FlFTH WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

(Application filed May 7, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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H. P. WELLS & U. MURRILL. FIFTH WHEEL FOR VEHICLES (Application filed May 7, 1898.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I'IARLAN P. XVELLS AND OSGOOD MORRILL, OF AMES BURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

FIFTH-WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,625, dated March 7, 1899.

Application filed May '7, 1898. Serial No. 680,083. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that we, HARLAN P. WELLs and Ossoon MORRILL, citizens of the United States, residing at Amesbury, in the county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fifth-Wheels for Vehicles and we do hereby declare the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, on which like parts are designated by similar reference characters, to be a sulficiently full, clear, and exact description thereof as will enable persons skilled in the art to which the improvements appertain to make and use the same.

The object of our invention is the production of an improved fifth-wheel which shall have no king-bolt, the same being, when used, a continuous source of annoyance and trouble, as is well known, which shall be so constructed that the draft and wear will be taken by V-shaped or substantially V-shaped or curved grooves and projections formed in and on the several elements, which will constitute, when the several constituent or component parts are united, a reservoir or reservoirs for oil or other lubricant and from which, as well as from the bearing-surfaces, dust and dirt will effectively be excluded, which will admit of the easy separation of the front axle from the other parts of the vehicle, and which will also allow the several parts of the vehicle to be united or set up in the shop with facility and expedition.

'With the above object in view our invention consists in constructing a fifth-wheel without a king-bolt.

Further, it consists in constructing a fifthwheel of three main elements or parts which interlock, the middle element being movable.

Still further, it consists in constructing a fifth-wheel of three main elements, each having one or more substantially V-shaped or curved grooves or projections, the said projections adapted to match the grooves.

Finally, it consists in certain novelties of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth.

Figure l is a top plan view of our fifthwheel, showing the relative positions of the axle, spring, top plate, stays, perches, and straps of the lower plate. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of a section of the axle and spring,

also showing the edges of the top and middle plates located between the spring and axle. Fig. 3 is asection of Fig. 1, taken on line a: a: and through the spring aty y. Fig. i is a top plan View of the middle plate. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the top plate. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the lower plate, showing also the two integral straps, on the under sides of which the ends of the perches are secured. Fig. 7 is one of the bolts which unites the top plate, the spring, and a stay.

Referring to the drawings, it will be observed that the several componentelements which constitute our fifth-wheel and the elements of the vehicle with which they are com bined embrace the three interlocking plates A B C, two perches D D, an axle E, a spring F, two stays G G, two bolts H H for securing the spring, stays, and plate A rigidly together, two bolts K K for securing the plate A, perch-plate B, and stays G G in relative fixed positions, two adj usting-bolts l I uniting the perch-plate B and top plate A, and two straps-M M.

The top plate A (see Fig. 5) has a circular V-shaped groove 1, a circular V-shaped projection 2, a flange 3, bolt-holes 4 4, countersunk seats and bolt-holes 5 5, perforated lugs 6 6, and a seat for a spring consisting of the longitudinal ribs 7 7-. The countersunk seats for the bolts are for the purpose of bringing the surfaces of the bolt-heads in the same plane as that part of the fiat surface of plate A which frictionally engages the plate 0. The perforated lugs 6 6 should be fashioned so they will fit the perch-straps of the plate B. In the illustration they are shown slightly concave, but may be flat or of any other shape.

The perch-plate B has two integral straps 8 8, with seats 9 9 for the ends of the perches, a circular V-shaped projection 10, two perfo rated and threaded bosses 11 11, and two holes 12 12 in the straps.

The middle plate C has a circular V-shaped groove 13, a circular V-shaped projection 14, a circular V-shaped groove 15 on its lower face, a side extension 16, having a plane surface 17 and two flanges 18 19 for engaging the axle, and a large circular hole 20 through the center.

It is obvious from the foregoing description and illustrations of one physical embodiment of our improvements that we have produced a fifth-wheel having all the characteristics hereinbefore enumerated as the object or purpose of our invention.

While we consider the example illustrated as made by perhaps the best mode We have so far devised for applying the principle of our invention,we do not wish the scope thereof restricted to the exact details of construction shown inasmuch as .we may introduce various modifications. For instance, we may make the plate 0 integral with the axle, substitute for the two perches a single perch, in which case plate B would have a single central strap to receive the end of the perch, and I change the shape of the circular grooves and projections in and on the plates A, B, and C from a V to a curved or ovalform, at the same time preserving the interlocking character of the plates. These andother similar changes we shall consider colorable and not substantial.

WVhat we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A fifthwheel in combination with a spring, an axle, and a perch; said fifth-wheel consisting of three main elements each interlocking with another; the top and bottom elements rigidly secured together, and the entire middle element movablewith the axle in the arc of a circle; in substance as set forth.

2. A fifth-wheel embracing as main elements top, bottom, and middle plates interlocking through the medium of circular grooves and projections formed in and on the plates, the middle plate being connected with the axle and movable with it in the arc of a circle; in substance as set forth.

3. A fifth-wheel embracing as main elements top, bottom, and middle plates interlocking through the medium of substantially V-shaped grooves and projections formed in and on the plates, said plates having their centers back of the axle and the middle element only being movable; in substance as set forth.

4. The combination in a fifth-wheel, constructed of interlocking plates substantially A as described and having their centers back of the axle, of a bottom plate having an integral perch strap or straps; in substance as set forth.

5. A fifth-wheel consisting of three main elements each in the form of a plate; one of the plates located between the other two and frictionally engaging one of the said latter plates through the medium of a circular groove and a circular projection, the top and bottom plates being adjustable relative to each other through the medium of two adjusting-bolts which engage the said plates only; and all of the plates having their centers back of the axle; in substance as set forth.

6. The combination with the straps of the lower plate having seats on their under sides, of the lugs of the upper plate; the bolts; and the perches; in substance as set forth.

7. The combination with the top and hottom plates rigidly secured to the perch; of

the single middle plate having the large circular hole; and the adjusting-bolts; in substance as set forth.

8. The combination in a fifth-wheel of the three plates having their centers located back of the axle; the middle plate having on its under side a circular groove engaged by a circular projection on the upper surface of the bottom plate, and means for holding the middle plate in frictional contact between the top and bottom plates; in substance as set forth.

9. The combination in a fifth-wheel of three plates having their centers back of the axle and arranged concentric; the top and bottom plates being secured together and the middle plate movable with the axle in the arc of a circle; and the said top and middle plates interlocking through the medium of a groove and projection; in substance as set forth.

HARLAN P. \VELLS. OSGOOD MORRILL. lVitnesses:

GEORGE H. BRIGGS, DELL W. DOLBIER. 

